YOU NEVER KNOW: How the Universe Can Change A Life in 24-Hours

“A good deal happens in a man’s life the he isn’t responsible for. Fortunate openings occur; but it is safe to remember that such ‘breaks’ are occurring all the time, and other things being equal, the advantage goes to the man who is ready.”  – Lawrence Downs

I couldn’t sleep a few nights ago and spent an hour surfing channels at 4am. I came across a preacher who said: Joseph woke up one morning as a slave, and went to sleep that night as a leader. No matter what my belief system is (or how silly some TV-evangelists are), I found the fact that I somehow clicked to this sentence at exactly the right time, and that my mind was open to hearing whatever it was the Universe wanted me to hear… were not coincidences. The preacher continued: Joseph’s life changed from dark to light in 24-hours. He repeated this sentence a few more times. And then I got it, and laughed out loud.

My favorite mentor is famous for saying: When the tragedy ends, the comedy begins. I laughed out loud because it resonated, and I felt silly for forgetting this. Last summer, I was about to leave New Orleans and move to Boulder, Colorado to continue on this path of finding a place to stay put for a long while. I got a phone call at the 11^th hour and was invited to work on a contract in Chicago – they even paid for my relocation costs. Via my network, within 24-hours I had a flat organized in an awesome neighborhood, a moving company set up, and a last-minute-short-term YES to a local contract I had been working on to help open their restaurant on St Charles Avenue.

I think others have had this experience, too. Of course this can go both ways: one moment you are totally OK, and the next your niece is in the hospital diagnosed with cancer. But I want to focus on the good stuff right now, on the fabric of the Universe that I think has a quirky sense of humor. It is no surprise that as I continue to look for work in this challenging economy, my spirits have been, well, down the rabbit hole. I have not gotten out of bed for some mornings, let my dishes pile up, ran out of tissues crying my pitiful guts out. I am talking deep rabbit hole behavior here. And then, I got called for a few interviews, then came a call for a second interview, some rejections sprinkled in, then another call to come to a well-organized job fair, and another call to work a 3-day promotions gig here in Chicago, via a networking contact I made 2 years ago in New Orleans.

Forward momentum lifted me out of the gloom, and the Universe sent a sunny heat wave to Chicago as icing on the cake just for me (I am convinced of this!). I woke up this morning actually smiling, said good morning to strangers on the way to my local café, truly enjoyed the one-shot Americano I always order (they know my order now), and read about all the St Patty’s Day activities planned for this weekend with a lighter mind, a giggle in my heart. Within 24-hours, my life has turned around again, and it doesn’t seem so hopeless anymore. Relief. Time does work wonders on the heaviness of our souls.

An ex-client of mine in Detroit, who has become a good friend, is rather good at being a cheerleader for those around her, and she sent me this e-mail today:

Hang tight.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Yes, the easy way out is down the rabbit hole BUT THE WORLD NEEDS YOU!
They just don’t know where to fit you yet (and other really cool people).
You WILL find your spot – so keep picking yourself up and moving forward!
You are too talented and we all need you!
Now – pray for my niece to make it through and she will be our inspiration…

You never know, right? I am going to attend a networking event tomorrow night at a lounge downtown, and it will get me showered, dressed up, and out of my flat. At the very least, I will have a free glass of white wine, nosh on a few appetizers, and connect to a local or two. I will take the “EL” to the Loop, walk among the living, and act as if. Perhaps I will meet a tall, dark, beautiful stranger on the train. Perhaps in the next 24-hours, I might get a phone call from my new company, whomever they may be, and life will look, taste, and feel differently. I don’t believe that ANYTHING is possible (except for theoretical physics and quantum mechanics), but it does seem that the preacher has a point – a life can change from dark to light in 24-hours. The trick is being open to it from a more positive, “fluffier” place, and not perched down, looking up out of a deep, dark rabbit hole.

Keep on swimming…

EXIT STRATEGIES: Waking up the Magician, Creating a Plan B, and Sleeping Better at Night

“Freedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them – and then, the opportunity to choose.”    – C Wright Mills

Now that’s what I call a quote with a punch. Amen. First, I love the fact that choices still seem to exist in our small spheres of influence. The frustration that most of us feel when looking for work, for contracts, for a love interest, for a new friendship… lies mostly in the glaring fact that we must rely on other people’s “power” over us. If a Hiring Manager likes us, if a prospective Client wants to work with us, if a beautiful person we just met wants to have a second date, or if a neighbor wants to accept an invitation to a BBQ party – these are all choices that other people make, choices that can change our realities overnight.

Ok, I get it. We do not live in vacuums (no matter how much we try!), and we are all inter-dependent on the decisions of others. For a Rugged Individualist like myself, this has always been a tough pill to swallow. BUT… I still see that I do have choices, and that this inter-dependent dance is one key to a life worth living. And now, I must admit out loud that my fierce independence has finally hit a wall.

Like many people during this New Millennium, I am at a crossroads. I have used this time to re-invent the direction in my life, and have chosen to shift gears from owning a business to working for others… for awhile anyway, until I can collect enough know-how and cash to be successful in a new enterprise. This transition has been, well, bloody hard. Excruciatingly difficult. Almost as challenging as getting my divorce in a foreign country or watching my Mom shrink into the body of a dying woman. For the past 7 years, I have been diving back into the culinary world and have had my share of successes and failures – but I am still alive and kicking, thank you. Always, always, always having an exit strategy has helped me sleep better at night, whether I have had to use it or not.

I relocated to New Orleans to absorb and swim around the foodie culture in this famous culinary city. The doors have not exactly been open, the jobs have not exactly been in abundance, and my intention to gain valuable experience has not exactly matched my optimism. I have hit another wall with graffiti that says: you are not us, you are not from here, you are not the right age, you are not the right gender, and you don’t have the right background. Hmmm. Sucks. Really?! Ok, time to look at Reality in the face and admit “defeat”. I use quotes because this is just another bump in the road of career transitions, and I know better. Onwards.

I have always been a big fan of living life with a PLAN B. Some of my colleagues who only focus on the positive (how DO they do this?!) may disagree with this advice, but I have noticed that having a solid Plan B has not only been useful during hard times, it has also helped me see WHAT IS SO around me, so that I can live in the now as much as possible and keep my ostrich head out of the sand. A Plan B offers me the opportunity to choose, to engage in alternatives, and to wake up the Magician inside my mind who sees limitless possibilities and helps propel me into a new direction. Then I can exhale, and suddenly life is once again my oyster. Still inter-dependent, but my own nonetheless.

EXIT STRATEGIES TO CONSIDER:

• Personal Relationships: if you find yourself in a very harmful relationship, and your immense efforts to create a positive direction have failed, it’s time to look at alternatives. If you think you can’t possibly live in your best friend’s basement, think again. You can. The only thing keeping you from leaving your partner is your mind, because you are more resilient than you give yourself credit for. Your Plan B is staring at you in the face, and the basement you will live in for awhile, even with your 5 children, is not as horrible as you think. Not saying it’s easy – it’s just not as horrible as your mind thinks.

• Professional Relationships: if you find yourself in a dead-end job, with colleagues and bosses who are not in alignment with your values, it’s time to look at alternatives. If you think you can’t possibly get another job in this economy, think again. You can. It may take you months, or even years, but the fact that your mind has created excuses for their unethical, unprofessional, and inappropriate behavior is what’s keeping you stuck. Your Plan B is staring at you in the face, and becoming a Job-Seeker or an Entrepreneur (if that’s your thing) is not as challenging as you think. Not saying it’s easy – it’s just not as challenging as your mind thinks.

• Business Ownership: if you find yourself with unpaid bills, no credit, and no prospects for new business, it’s time to look at alternatives. If you think you can’t possibly let go of your “baby” with all the sweat equity you have invested, think again. You can. Your ego is at the core of why you are convinced that going deeper into the rabbit hole of debt is a good idea. It isn’t. Get professional help to see if your business can be turned around (find the money to do this – beg, borrow, or steal it if you have to), find an investor, or… trust your gut if it says it’s time to move on. Your Plan B is staring at you in the face, and joining the Failed Business Club is not as humiliating as you think. Not saying it’s easy – it’s just not as humiliating as your mind thinks.

• Geography and Property: if you find yourself in a town that no longer resonates with you, and your material possessions have become like anchors sinking you into the earth, it’s time to look at alternatives. If you think you can’t possibly start from scratch, build up a new network of friends and neighbors, or sell your expensive house and become a renter, think again. You can. Of course there are exceptions – your sister is dying of cancer and you need to take care of her – however, moving to a new area, selling your home, and trading in your expensive car for something more economical are possibilities. No really, they are. Your Plan B is staring at you in the face, and starting fresh with almost nothing is not as scary as you think. Not saying it’s easy – it’s just not as scary as your mind thinks.

• Asking for Help with a capital H: if you find yourself in a position in which you can no longer succeed alone, it’s time to look at alternatives. If you think you would die from embarrassment and shame and can’t possibly ask for help with a capital H, think again. You won’t and you can. Once again, your ego is at the core of why you might find it unimaginable to ask someone for a loan, or a place to crash for a few months, or a shoulder on which to vent your frustrations. Your friends and family are there to support you… and if you are truly alone on the planet, you can get help with a capital H at your nearest church (if applicable), foundation, or community social services program. Your Plan B is staring at you in the face, and asking for assistance and guidance is not as embarrassing as you think. Not saying it’s easy – it’s just not as embarrassing as your mind thinks.

The last one resonates for me big time. Last Monday afternoon, my best friend reminded me that I may want to start letting others take care of me for a change. She added that I may be handicapped in this regard because I was not exactly raised in a nurturing environment and that the thought of being taken care of is truly foreign. My fierce independence has been a blessing most of my life… until now. I need help, I need to shift gears once again, and I need to learn how to let down my guard long enough to accept that people will take care of me… if I ask. So I did.

I am about to embark on the next chapter of this transition, and have decided to leave New Orleans. It is sad, yes, and I will miss the energy of this awesome city. And… my Plan B has been to relocate to a more progressive and inclusive town, either near the ocean or near mountains, and to continue on this culinary path towards eventually having my own café or food truck or an awesome position in the food business. My heart was pounding in my head when I wrote to a couple old friends in the Denver area, and asked about the possibility of me moving there and getting their help. And guess what happened, much to my surprise…?

They said an unfettered yes, come to Colorado, you can stay in our houses, meet our friends, network with our professional contacts, and all will be well. My mind did not expect this to be so easy. Instead, I had made up a story that they would think I was a loser and would only offer help with pity or obligation in their hearts. Well, this scenario could not have been farther from the truth. I woke up on Tuesday morning with a light step, a deeper sense of inner peace, and self-deprecating laughter on my lips. I mean, what a joke I have been, thinking that I can not allow people to take care of me. Even coaches get it painfully wrong sometimes! I also have another Plan B moving forward which involves a longer-term contract in Chicago working with a current client on his HR department. So, one of these Plan Bs is going to work somehow, as all of my Plan Bs have worked in the past.

Is it really this simple? Yes, it is. Engaging in an exit strategy is not as bad as any of us think.

LOCALS ONLY NEED APPLY: Hidden Hiring Practices & How to Overcome Them

“Discrimination is a disease.” – Roger Staubach

First a brief disclaimer: This article is not intended to offend the brave souls who actually engage in EOE (Equal Opportunity Employment). Instead, it is being written in response to countless instances in which discrimination has hindered careers moving forward, and for no other reason than say, being a woman, or Hispanic, or a Yankee. I am looking for work again, and I just read this on a Craigslist ad for a large, local restaurant chain:

“Local candidates true to southern hospitality are encouraged to apply.”

When I first arrived in Southeast Louisiana in the spring of 2010, I worked with a recruiter who specializes in the hospitality/culinary industry. After several attempts to land an interview for me (and failing), she flat out told me to wait at least a year. She offered advice that still stings in my ears: “you are not a local… talk to me in a year and then we’ll see if that helps. Good luck.”

With a solid background in culinary savvy San Francisco as well as solid culinary experience in Asia and Europe, recruiters love me and my CV. They are powerless, however, to get past insipid forms of discrimination. Yep, I am not a local. I was not born in New Orleans. Therefore, I must be handicapped because of this, since we all know that only those from the south understand the concept of good food and service? I guess these Hiring Managers have never had the pleasure of dining elsewhere…

I decided to relocate to New Orleans last year BECAUSE of the culinary industry and famous food culture of this area. Yes, this is a foodie city indeed. Love it. But so are San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Austin, Miami, Seattle, Kyoto, Rome, Berlin, Shanghai, Sydney, Bangkok… (if I did not mention your fine city, my apologies). I did my research and knew that there is a “locals only” mentality here, but in my naiveté I did not pay much attention to this. Silly me. Oops. Now what do I do? How do I overcome this “hidden” obstacle?

Here are some options I have considered:

• Move to a different area. Live and work in a place where the melting pot of the US is not a big deal. East Coast, West Coast, and places like Austin, Chicago, and Boulder Colorado all come to mind.
• Stop applying online, via recruiters and even through other connections. Start showing up in a suit, resume in hand, a pep in my step, a smile on my face. See what happens.
• Add more local references with 504 numbers to my CV, even though they are not professional references.
• Word my cover letter to include that I am not a local, but I am a local in spirit and want to stay in the area. Gently talk about the “white elephant”. Use self-deprecating humor.
• Change professions, get a McJob, and call it a day.

I just got off the phone with a local contact. She is in a similar situation as I am but she knows EVERYBODY in town. She is going to introduce me to some of her contacts this week – owners who are opening up new restaurants and need someone with my extensive background. Fingers crossed. She is the flip side of what I am writing about: she is helpful, open-minded, and inclusive by nature. Thank goodness for small miracles.

Or perhaps this is “bad karma” I am working off. I recently hired three people for my last contract job, and observed that the company needed more men. Most of the front of house staff is female who are fairly thin-skinned and not physically strong. The company needed strength, stamina and thicker skins, and therefore I set out to hire more men to create a balance. Too much estrogen (or testosterone) in a team is not effective – a mixed demographic creates a more successful team. Recent statistics are proving this: the more diverse a group, the better for the company. So, I hired two men, young and strong and qualified… and one woman who is similar to the people the owners usually hired (I hired her because my gut also told me that she would be a solid, long-term employee). Maybe the difficulties I am having as a non-local is my own bad karma? Hmm…

My gut tells me at the time of this article, that New Orleans may not be a place I will set down roots. Then again, maybe I will. Hard to tell at this point. If these hidden obstacles continue to thwart my progress, I may not have a choice but to find my fortune elsewhere. Not ready to give up quite yet, but yeah… I am getting close. Unfortunately, I cannot change my gender, age, race or place of birth. I am kind of tired of hearing that it’s ok that I am from the West Coast… good thing I am not a Yank. I hear this on a semi-regular basis. What this message feels like is this: “you are not us, go back where you came from”. I realize that sounds harsh. Keep in mind that it is merely a reflection of some of the harsher realities here.

So what to do? I will continue to develop my famous thick skin. I will continue to network my network. I will continue to post CVs, pound the pavement, work with recruiters, and pray. And I will continuously tweak the wording in my communications to local Hiring Managers… and include information about me being a local in spirit. I will show up in a suit with my CV and a smile. Locals often say that all the people who live in New Orleans have CHOSEN to be here. Crazy as this seems, people like me have chosen to live here, too. But I cannot stay if the doors remain shut to outsiders.

In the last two weeks, there have been 13 armed robberies in the neighborhood where I just finished a contract job. Two break-in-and-enter rapes occurred last weekend about a mile from my flat. We live in a sinkhole here and the levees so far have saved us from the rising Mississippi. So far so good. But for how long, and is this a viable place to lay down some roots? Right now, my gut says no. Even with the justice department and FBI’s presence here since Katrina, things have NOT improved. The local culture is perhaps too attached to business as usual. So be it. Fair enough.

And Southeast Louisiana will lose good folks like me, who love this adopted city and want to contribute to making New Orleans an even better place. Having worked and lived overseas (Asia and Europe) for much of my professional career, and having the good fortune of finding success in these foreign countries, it would seem that a little place like New Orleans would not be so challenging. Argh. Time will tell, indeed. Stay tuned.

Moral of the story? Networking is key. Period. And (almost) EVERYTHING takes longer than any of us plan for… Perhaps it’s time to re-open  my file called PLAN B? Onwards.

GROWING PAINS: Be careful what you ask for!

“Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?”  – John Keats

I am working with an intelligent, ambitious, and highly qualified client – a gifted and trail-blazing doctor who wants to transition from being an employee to being an independent contractor. His journey into self-employment has been slow, as his knee-jerk reaction to change is to take risks at a snails pace, struggling with making a final decision. He is a “mediator type”, which means he will err on the side of “wait and see”. That’s all fine and good, except when engaging in a 180 degree life-changing transition. Bottom line, he needs to say YES or NO to this process. At that point, a coach/expert like me can work with him with success. Before that point, indecision creates too much of a murky and ambiguous environment to guide him forward.

Does this sound familiar? It has certainly sounded familiar to me…

Whether we are making personal or professional decisions, most of us get stuck. Getting stuck can resemble questions without answers, like an endless tape in our minds that won’t shut off. Some common questions are:

• What do I want to be when I “grow up” and how can I make that happen?
• Would my life be better off if I shift from X to Y… or would it be worse long-term?
• What levels of risk are acceptable and/or unacceptable?
• What are potential rewards and/or consequences of this transition?
• What am I willing to do to create that which I wish to create?
• What resources do I have (time, money, sweat equity, support, talents, skills)?
• Do I have what it takes to live with the uncomfortable growing pains during the process?
• Should I stay or should I go?

Once these questions are answered, people have a better chance of taking action and making something extraordinary happen. When these questions stay in the loop of the mind, we are like rats running on perpetual wheels, investing energy but living on the road to nowhere. My primary job as a coach is to help create positive forward momentum for my clients. What that looks like is as unique as each situation demands. However, the commonality I continue to witness in regards to getting stuck makes me groan out loud. Life is ALREADY filled with a lot of gray areas, so the choices that we DO have need to be taken, either way. This is the sign of a mature life fully lived; otherwise we are like walking, talking metaphors for checking out and settling for mediocrity. Have we forgotten that we are here on Earth for a reason? What is our special purpose?

At the center of this ambiguous reluctance to jump into the abyss of the unknown… is FEAR. Yep, good old-fashioned fear. Rarely do clients admit this openly, but it is quickly apparent from where I’m sitting. I offer my mantra (inspired by Susan Jeffers): Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway. That seems to help at first. Then when the transition process steps up to a new level, I notice clients getting VERY stuck, and I’ll sense something even heavier than fear. So I ask: what is REALLY holding us back?

And this is what I have discovered in about 90% of the people and companies I work with: human beings are NOT exactly willing to feel uncomfortable in order to shift something and get what they want. Period. Instead, we continue to engage in the definition of insanity and go about our business with our status quo mentalities, while expecting a different outcome. We really can be morons sometimes no matter how good our intentions are (lol!). In “coach speak”, what REALLY gets us stuck is that us human beings just can’t be bothered to put in the effort and walk the talk, to be uncomfortable, to live gracefully through the process of change. It’s just too darn hard. We give up, and we remain loyal (and addicted) to “reality is how we do things around here” because we are not willing to live with the growing pains. Somewhere in our cultures, we were taught that life should be easier or that we can avoid growing pains. Sure we know this is not true intellectually, but in practice, we seem to react like children when it comes to life’s demands on our efforts. We cry, we complain, we rationalize, we blame, we avoid, we pound our fists in the air, and we give up way way way too easily.

Personally, I could easily picture life sitting on a beach, boogie boarding, reading, swimming, watching bands play music, and cooking the days away… And yet, I get it that life is hard and demands great effort, too. Therefore, when life gets tough (I mean really tough), I fully feel the pain AND I move forward in spite of my trepidation. I act as if. This is key to many success stories – fully acknowledging that growth is painful, fully feeling the fear, fully doing it anyway, and fully acting as if. Either way, we need to make a choice to stay or go, to hang out in the muck of limbo or move forward with a smile on our lips.

Living a “100% Life” is not for everyone, however. It is the Road Less Traveled, indeed. An “80% Life” is pretty darn good actually, but for some people it is not enough. Our vision includes the desire to offer (extraordinary) contributions to the earth. And to those inspiring souls, I dedicate this article. Thank you for your efforts. To the rest, if you want something to improve and you are no longer willing to be stuck, then please learn to say YES to a little (or a lot of!) discomfort. You will be amazed by how quickly your lives can positively change. The world needs your energy, large and small – it’s time to make a difference and shine, however that looks like for you, your families, your teams, your companies, your communities, your planet.

By the way, my “mediator” doctor client made the final decision to become self-employed, gave up a very lucrative offer for an employee position, and is on his way towards professional independence. I couldn’t be prouder. He has chosen his version of a 100% Life. Ready to join him?

Just saying…

For more info: www.VeloCityCoachingServices.com

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP: From Churchill to Cher on Failure, Endorphins & Bouncing Back

“When you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” Franklin D Roosevelt

 

HUMAN NEEDS… Hard times ahead. Many of us are still struggling and just hanging on to the end of our ropes. Well, consider for a moment how two keen observers of human nature viewed our basic needs. Maslow and Jung show us how fortunate or perhaps unfortunate we are when we think about the Human Needs “Pie Chart”. I find it fascinating that when I write down my own human needs, my answers occasionally change. This means my perceptions are always behind all choices, conscious or otherwise. Sometimes I need security more than contribution, and at other times I am content to live in growth and connection, while the other needs seem to be rather insignificant.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs Insight Self-Actualization Esteem Love and Belonging Safety and Security Basic / Physical

Jung’s Six Human Needs Security Variety Significance Love and Connection Personal Growth Contribution

THE RABBIT HOLE… Then consider for a moment how resentful and regretful we all become when our needs aren’t met and things don’t go our way. I am guilty of this myself, and as a matter of fact just last weekend I was in a funk. The kind of dip in the road that makes us want to eat copious amounts of pizza and drink beer all afternoon. These resentments and regrets eat at our energy and stamina. They hold us back just because we are not ready or willing to clean them up and let them go. Why do we feel that we are alone in our struggles, when actually we are all in this together? We seem to be trying to do our best, and be the best “us” we can possibly be, but we are still stuck… a lot. This next quote inspires us to move on, if we find ourselves down the rabbit hole:

“Someone was hurt before you, wronged before you, hungry before you, frightened before you, beaten before you, humiliated before you, raped before you…yet, someone survived…You can do anything you choose to do.” – Maya Angelou

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE… And then VOILA! there is this wonderfully constructed anecdote to suffering. It has been given to us in order to wake up the endorphins and feel good molecules all around us, so that we can carry on one more day in the midst of hard times (no matter what “hard times” look like). Humor ladies and gentlemen… I present you all with the best medicine ever! By the way, the book: Laughter, Sex, Vegetables, and Fish: The Ten Secrets of Long Living People by Dr John Tickell is fabulous. Comedy Central, Bill Cosby records, watching Paul Rudd on SNL work wonders for our smile lines:

“Humor is just another defense against the universe.”  – Mel Brooks

FAILURE… Of course a discussion on resilience and not giving up would not be complete without Mr Thomas Edison’s famous quote about failure. Failure is at the CORE of success and perseverance, and it is still astonishing how many leaders fail to remember this. Too many decisions are being made with an imbalanced amount of short-term thinking:

“I haven’t failed. I’ve identified 10,000 ways this doesn’t work.” – Thomas Edison

STANDING UP… Why is it so hard to develop patience, a long-term plan, the ability to stay the course, no matter what? We give up so easily because for most of us, we were taught that failure is to be avoided at all cost. This is faulty thinking, indeed. Failure, and getting back up again, is what success and resilience LOOK LIKE. Staying down is failure, as Mr Ali and Japanese wisdom have reminded us:

“Inside of a ring or out, ain’t nothing wrong with going down. It’s staying down that’s wrong.” – Muhammad Ali

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese proverb

LIFE ARCHITECTS… Let’s move now into the realm of how our perceptions ultimately offer us the lives we lead. We are the architects of our families, relationships, jobs, and communities, sometimes with more power than at other times, but we are there, morning, noon, and night, no matter what. What this means is: we seem to create our realities, most of the time anyway. This is actually good news. We can then learn how to say yes or no, to accept criticism or praise with an open mind, to move forward or slump down into the abyss. The ability to see that we do have choices (even teeny tiny ones!), translates into a stronger ability to bounce back from whatever life hands us. It’s all about the lemons quote. Make lemonade.

“Women have to harness their power – its absolutely true. It’s just learning not to take the first no. And if you can’t go straight ahead, you go around the corner.” – Cher

ABUNDANCE… Another way to tread forward with determination and diligence is to engage in the Abundance Mentality made popular by Stephen Covey. He said that most people are deeply scripted in what he calls the Scarcity Mentality. He said they see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everybody else. He describes the Scarcity Mentality as “the zero-sum paradigm of life” (deep stuff, eh?!), and added that people with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit. They also have a very hard time being genuinely happy for the success of other people. Beware of this mind-set as is will surely ZAP you of any thread of resilience you might have left! On the other hand…

“The Abundance Mentality flows out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everyone. It results in the sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity.” - Stephen Covey

SANITY… So how do we know that we are doing OK, even when we don’t feel like we are OK? Is this when our best friends come over with cheap Chinese food and a bottle of our favorite spirits? They regularly check in and ask how we are getting on, offer cliches that ring true, and generally make sure we keep on swimming. They remind us of how resilient we truly are. Bless these angels. In my own adventurous life, family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors are the ones who keep me sane. They get me and vice verse. What a relief. This next quote personally resonates like a temple bell:

“Not all who wander are lost.” – JRR Tolkien

RESILIENCE… Finally, always keep in mind that life is not TOO hard… it’s just VERY hard. See the difference? TOO hard means that we are about to give up, what’s the point, we’re done. And VERY hard means that sometimes life’s a bitch, a pain in the backside, and we just want to crawl under a rock and sleep for a decade… but we don’t. We don’t walk away when the kitchen gets hot. We never, never, never give up. So I leave you with this final quote from a powerful woman, one who has earned her place in the resilience hall of fame:

“Don’t take your toys inside just because it’s raining.” – Cher

ACCELERATED JOB SEARCH: How I Found a Great Position!

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life… Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want.”

- Steve Jobs

Not being a big fan of empty promises with one-size-fits-all methods for job search strategies, I am reluctant to share my tips and tricks. Although I do not claim that what I just did to get a great job in 48 days will work for everyone, perhaps this information will at the very least inspire YOU that life can be filled with limitless possibilities, indeed.

Here are SEVEN STEPS that landed me a job that seems to be custom-designed for almost every skill I possess. No really. The position I just got has my name on it. And it was not that hard to do. Don’t get me wrong – I did not say it was easy… I am just saying that the concept of something being easy or difficult is relative. Think about that for a moment. Ready to get inspired and nudged out of some of your more stubborn mind-sets to land a job? Onwards…

ONE – Comfort Zones: Get out of your comfort zone for an entire day, and pay attention to your real-time environment. This is the most difficult step because you will need to look at things like possible relocation, wage cuts, fear of change, and your local economy. The big stuff. The wisest thing you can do right now is tell your comfort zones to go on holiday at least until you get a job. Say a tough-love sayonara to what gets you regularly stuck. You can do this.

TWO – Money: Wage gouging is here to stay for a while longer. How much longer is hard to predict, but it is an employer’s market. If you made 110K for the past 4 years, you may have to wrap your head around earning, say, 70K for the same position, depending on where you live. A recent client almost refused a job offer at an EXCELLENT organization because the salary offered was half her ‘usual rate’. After an hour of intensive coaching, she took the job. The first week made her ego hurt badly. Now, after two months on the job, she LOVES the job, and sees room for growth. A success story.

THREE – Geography: Detroit, where I just lived for the “crash of 09”, is like Ground Zero for the Unemployed. The market is beyond tough there, and I watched dozens of people leave the state to get work in stronger economies. (In fact, whenever I hear my friends from San Francisco or Denver or Switzerland complain about the economy, I politely inform them to wake up and appreciate how GOOD they have it… sheesh!!!). If you have elderly parents, under-valued real estate, or kids who will make your life miserable if you move them, I honestly empathize. AND… what is your goal? To find a job, right? Is being unemployed for over a year in a very bad geographical market working for you?

FOUR – Forward Momentum: I NEVER get tired of saying this to myself, to my clients, to anyone who will listen! Positive forward momentum is KEY and is the essential ingredient for your daily operations. You are selling yourself, and all great Sales Professionals will tell you that a lack of forward momentum is death. What have you done today to create traction in your search? Everything counts: sending a thank you e-mail, researching one more company, connecting to one more networking contact.

FIVE – Research: Websites can be a façade – companies pay good money to create an image that may or may not be real. And, some job postings already have an ideal candidate, however companies need to do their due diligence and post the job anyway. Yes, they are perhaps wasting your time, however you never know. The Hiring Manager might like you, and keep you in mind for future positions. I would estimate that 75% of the last 48 days in my job search entailed some form of research, including online, books, experts, other networkers, and just good old-fashioned paying attention. I got a great lead on a local company from a local bartender at 1am. You never know.

SIX – Targets: Where do YOU want to work? What kind of position do YOU want? Of course when money runs out, we need to get any job (my friend calls these ‘McJobs’). However, statistics consistently show that 87% of the people looking for their target job (like a dream job) will land it within 18 months. For more stats, check out What Color Is Your Parachute? I just got a job at a company I targeted, in a position that was created for me. They were not looking for someone at the time I contacted them, but they were thinking about implementing some positive changes for future growth, and voila! My resume arrived in their mailbox (I send snail mail resumes and cover letters – another guerrilla method that has worked for me), and Serendipity did the rest. In the past 48 days, I targeted 21 local companies here in New Orleans: I received 4 no thank you’s, 14 no replies, and 3 companies who called me in for an interview. It only took ONE.

SEVEN – Nail It No Matter The Outcome: Negotiating with NOTHING TO LOSE is the most powerful position. This is a fact and can also be backed up by stats (do yourself a big favor and read Negotiate This! by Herb Cohen). I knew I nailed the interviews way back in February, and felt solid the whole time. The first ten minutes of meeting the owners of the company who hired me went smoothly, and the rest was just a matter of time. Those first moments are KEY – if you go into the interviews (and into the entire process for that matter!) with the idea that you are going to nail it no matter the outcome, you have now created authentic self-expression and peace of mind, even BEFORE you get started. This is powerful, and good Hiring Managers will sense this inner calm and confidence, too.

Recently, I got an email from a fellow networker and former client I met in Michigan and on LinkedIn last year. She did a one hour session with me to get an overview of her strengths, weaknesses, successes, and roadblocks. She recently moved to South Carolina where her sister lives, and she is feeling a renewed spurt of optimism as she continues to navigate her job search efforts in her adopted state.

She wrote: Thanks for the wonderful feedback. My sister moved to South Carolina a couple of months ago. I drove down from Michigan last week and I’ve started searching in this area. I’m sure that I will be working in this area soon. So, I’ve followed your lead! I’ll write back when I accept a job offer! (Can’t you just FEEL her forward momentum?!).

Ready to get back to work?

For more information, please contact Michele Wilke at info@velocitycoachingservices.com

New Orleans or Bust: Transitions are a Blessing

“Nothing is secure but Life, Transition, and the Energizing Spirit.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

After eight years in Kyoto, about three weeks before I traveled across continents to Europe to live with my then German boyfriend (who is now my ex-husband), all the negative attributes of the Japanese culture came rushing in. The mental dam that held back the crowded trains, perverted salary-men, and over-priced apples… all crashed into my brain, and the last three weeks in Kyoto were hard. I finally let myself fully feel the negative impact of living in a sexist and crowded country for eight years. Of course, now years later all the positive memories allow me to actually miss it, especially the revolving sushi guy near my flat in Shimogamo, and the 800 year old moss garden at my favorite temple on the east side of the city.

After a year in my hometown of Detroit, I have jumped ship and headed south to New Orleans, Now, all the negative aspects of being here are rushing in: the aggressive and dangerous drivers, the potholes that destroy cars, the lack of flexibility in people’s lifestyles, the fear of anything out of the “norm”. But this time I am also reminded of how much I am going to miss the dozens of angels I have met who have made the last sixteen months of life here bearable. But as much as I will miss people here, honestly… Detroit is just not my cup of tea. And ok, ok, I will also miss the Fly Trap in Ferndale (stupendous food), and the number seven sandwich at the Tuscan Cafe in Northville (hands down, the BEST cafe in town).

Transitions are a blessing. I did the best I could with what I had here in Detroit. Most of the people I met just didn’t think that paying for the service was included in the service I offered. I once told my family here in Michigan that I had never experienced such a conservative welfare state before. And as effective as my business is, I just can’t compete with free. Nope. Not even going to try. Time to shift into slow, mellow, creative, fun mode. Hopefully I will make a small difference everyday by smiling at a sad man on a bus, or by randomly tipping an extra $5. But the long days of business and coaching and breakthroughs and caring SO much are over.

Thank you Detroit for making me wake up and see that really, I am ready to move on and take things more lightly. I want to read fashion magazines and learn new recipes from cook books and sweat like hell at the gym… and make a living in arenas for which I have a passion and talent: culinary, events, music, hospitality. New Orleans is my version of Mecca in these fields, and I am going to once again produce something, and create something in addition to intellectual capital. Now that New Orleans is getting back on their feet… finally! If the entire economy tanks, I will move on once again and find my way on this beautiful and complex earth. And if there is a place for me on the Gulf, in the culture-shocking state of Louisiana, then this transition is a blessing, indeed.

At the very least, this life-changing, career-changing, tempo-changing move will no doubt offer a healthier, slower, saner, and more graceful view of the world. To be around an entire culture that values fun, creativity, music, food, and hospitality above all is truly a gift. Now all I have to do is get my mind wrapped around living among massive cockroaches that can fly.

To contact Michele Wilke, please write her at info@velocitycoachingservices.com

A FIX FOR LIFE’S QUICKSAND: Seven Steps Towards Getting Unstuck

“Life leaps like a geyser for those who drill through the rock of inertia.”

- Alexis Carrel

Although there is a growing business in which experts are ‘offering us the moon’, quick fixes and easy solutions… our instincts are telling us that there are no magic formulas for getting unstuck, getting a phone interview, getting a job, securing a loan. However, there are common-sense actions which can help us get back on track, infuse us with positive forward momentum, create energy… and offer clarity for making wise(r) choices.

1) FEAR: Examine and say out loud your Worst Case Scenario. Embrace your fears. They exist and you would be denying your human nature otherwise. If you want a “flat-lined life”, then pretend that you are not afraid, push them into the corners of your mind and watch how they (inevitably) sabotage thoughts, feelings, actions and words.

2) SUCCESS: Examine and say out loud what success looks like for YOU. Understand the distinction between being THE best and being YOUR best. Understand the distinction between success in a western society definition and your personal definition. Stand by your definition. Otherwise, you are denying your unique contribution, whatever that looks like for YOU.

3) RESPONSIBILITY: Examine and say out loud what YOU have personally created, positively and negatively in your life, career, financial situation, relationships, health, spirituality (if applicable), self-expression, peace of mind. Separate the things which you DO have control over and which things you DON’T. Otherwise, you are taking the entire world onto your shoulders, alone. This is not only damaging, it is egotistical.

4) THIS MOMENT: The past is gone, the future is unknown. If you think you can control either one, you are living an illusion. Living in this moment, now, is not easy. Got it. Oh well… Life is filled with effort, suffering, pain, joy, beauty and extraordinary peace. Everything we think, feel, do and say RIGHT NOW affects the future. That’s it.

5) GROWTH: Lifeshocks happen all the time. We either pay attention and trust our gut (and therefore HONOR ourselves) or we don’t pay attention and ignore our gut (and therefore BETRAY ourselves). Life whispers, talks, shouts, gives us two by fours and ten by tens in order to wake us up. Use this time to listen to life and use this time to GROW. There is the possibility that you are experiencing this moment for a reason.

6) INSPIRATION: get support / get inspired / get help / unplug / take a break / organize your day with structure / commit to being out of bed, dressed well, finished with breakfast and ready to focus on positive forward momentum by 10am everyday, Monday to Friday / set up Accountability Partners to keep you on track / tell the truth and choose to be authentic / cry / laugh / trust your gut / pay attention / breathe.

7) CONTRIBUTION: The wisest words I have ever heard while experiencing the negative “stuff” of life is: Michele, get off your pity party and help other people. Volunteer, pay it forward, reciprocate, take action and engage in the Laws of Contribution.

Perhaps the most important way to get unstuck is simply to help others get unstuck first. Seems to work out that way. Try it. Some very cool things might start to happen.

For more information: www.VeloCityCoachingServices.com

The “New Shingle Industry”: A Coach Comes Clean and Eats Her Own Words

“Some writing and production projects will be

a great way to spend my elderly rock years.”

Geddy Lee – from the rock group Rush

What do shoe factories, subway sandwiches, drum set manufacturers and organic tomato farmers have in common? They make stuff. They actually produce things, get them to places where people need them and then they are sold. Hopefully for enough profit to keep their business doors open.

Lately, I have noticed that the service sector in consulting, training and especially coaching has exploded. I call this The New Shingle Industry. You know, the people who are out of work, who are smart as a whip, enterprising, hard working and want to make a living at what they love by hanging out a shingle saying: Open For Business. The Career Coach in me wants to say go for it, live your dream, create some jobs… wahooo! However, the world now seems to be getting saturated with new shingle businesses and in my field, it seems to be so over saturated that I am seriously considering a new direction.

Just the other day, someone actually said to me: oh come on, not another coach. After I grinned and then gave my 12 second commercial – “I have been in the professional coaching and training business for 26 years, worked with over 10,000 people on three continents in the areas of business, career and life skills… yep, I am the real deal”, the listener said… oh, sorry about that, but you must know that we are getting bombarded with information overload. With so many experts out there, how can I know which ones to trust? And for those of you who know me, you know that my answer was: “trust your gut!”

Up until now, I have never had to say: I am the real deal… because this was not questioned. People heard me speak or offer up my soft-sales pitch and either it resonated for them or it didn’t; I got a new client or I didn’t. Pretty simple. Now, with life coaches and business trainers and process improvement consultants lining up outside each and every doorway, waiting to add expertise and lean ideas to everything that moves, well … seems like people are close to saying enough is enough. Don’t get me wrong, I am a BIG fan of all this stuff, but I think I am experiencing Quantity Overload myself!

In Germany, the number of “student spots” are controlled and reserved for each area of study. They learned the hard way decades ago that by not controlling what people study, the market can either get too saturated or too deserted. For example, there were too many biologists in Germany at one point, which created a glut of unemployed and very smart biologists. This seems to be true in the US, for example, regarding attorneys. With too many law schools offering law degrees, many lawyers are now out of work. Too many attorneys, coaches, service professionals. Not enough product-makers.

As I coach and train clients, help create breakthroughs for their lives and continue to have a rather profound impact on the people I work with, of course I feel a sense of belonging and peace of mind. Yep, after 26 years in the business, ok…  this is what I am supposed to be doing on this earth… and yet.

I am not PRODUCING anything. Sure, I am contributing to other people producing things, and helping them do it bigger, better, faster or stronger… Or more accurately, with more grace, honesty, integrity, intelligence and forward momentum. I am helping individuals find their truth. I support the difficult processes of couples communicating and businesses growing and ideas finding a place to land. But as much as this feels good, it can sometimes feel, well, non-PRODUCTIVE. When I worked in the culinary world, or in the event industry or even in rock and roll (back in the day), at least food, events and music were involved. The intellectual capital of the work was very challenging (logistics, customer service, production schedules, HR, artist hospitality, etc) but what I actually produced seemed even more awesome: a concert, a high-end meal, a kick-butt event for something worthwhile.

Even writing feels more like I am producing something; as intellectual and creative as this process is, I still have SOMETHING to show for the process. A piece of paper, a blog posting, a polished resume, an article, a business plan. Ok, perhaps all this kvetching out loud is just a momentary thought inspired by a long hard decade, a recent cold I caught or the noticeable onslaught of too many New Shingle Service Businesses all around us. But perhaps I am wondering if producing something besides intellectual capital is a new road worth considering. Seeing the decline of manufacturing here in Detroit, it makes me stop and ponder the possibilities.

I often end an essay or presentation with food for thought. This time, I seem to be eating my own words.

For more information, please visit: www.VeloCityCoachingServices.com

A DAY IN THE LIFE: Living in Transition is a Full-time Job

“Nothing is secure but life, transition and the energizing spirit.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

We would like to offer this simple and sound perspective on what life could / might look like for professionals in transition. This category includes professionals between jobs and successes as well as courageous souls who have put on the Entrepreneurial Hat, committed to starting up a new enterprise. (Gainfully employed professionals in transition who are facing cutbacks, restructuring and heavier work loads… and who are working in rather stressful environments because of these transitions are another entity altogether. Stay tuned, we will have a posting up for you shortly!)

MAKE A PLAN: Anyone getting tired of hearing this? Well, we aren’t… because a plan is like water, air, food and sleep to someone in transition. Make a plan. If you stick to it faithfully, that is ok, and if you don’t, that is ok, too. Make a new one. (And be careful not to spend all your time making a plan and no time acting on it!). This is a guide, a way to make sure that your inner “voice” does not sabotage you. It is your own accountability system. Use it, revise it, check off your to do lists.

THREE-LEGGED TABLE: A plan is like a three-legged table.

• It needs the PRODUCT of the plan: various resumes, letters of introduction, linkedin profile, endorsements, a good suit, interview skills, talents, certifications (if applicable).
• It needs the SALES of the plan: your 60 second commercial, your “ask”, your networking events, workshops, professional organizations, social networking, etc.
• It needs the ADMIN of the plan: e-mails, follow up systems, thank you notes, re-writing and “tweaking” your resume, researching new companies, markets, geographical locations, etc.

Note: One leg is NOT more important than another, even if you are constantly prioritizing these three legs. They are all equally important, overall. For entrepreneurs, this also holds true. A business is like a three-legged table with the same criteria. Transfer this concept to your business plan and voila! This is rather challenging since most new business owners filter EVERYTHING through their past experiences. So, take this business advice (or not): product, sales and admin are equally important. Sometimes the most simple pieces of wisdom are the most difficult to digest!

FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK: If you are job hunting or out there prospecting for new business, then you might want to cut down to a four-day work week. Actually, you are now working HARDER than when you had a job. The stress, pressure and psychological / emotional tension created by transition is more challenging than having a “real job”. Take the fifth work day and do only admin or research or meet a friend to compare notes and get fired up for the next week. Day six can be set aside to do domestic tasks and day seven is the day of rest.

READY TO ROLL TIME: Get up, showered, dressed, breakfast eaten, ready to roll by 8am or 10am (or noon for the night owls!). This ready to roll time applies to your four-day work week. Regularity and routine can support you.

NETWORK YOUR NETWORK: A minimum of two events per week and a maximum of 5 (or more if you are on a roll). This includes social, professional, educational, informal, formal, civic, spiritual and online, too. Balance each type of networking event as you get the hang of networking. Set up a weekly / monthly budget for this as well. These numbers are guidelines – trust your gut.

CREATE A FOLLOW UP SYSTEM: If you collect business cards, document them, write on the back where you met and anything that sticks out that you want to remember later. There are business card scanners, insert card holders, folder systems, online contact managers, etc. Whatever system you use to keep track of your networking, leads and prospects, follow it. If your system is not working for you, get help from that friend of yours who is very good at organization. Everyone has a friend like that, right?!

VOLUNTEER AND DO AN INTERNSHIP: Find an organizaton, a for-profit start up, a non-profit group, your church, your neighbors, other professionals in transition… and volunteer your time. The best case scenario is having this opportunity happen closer to your target job / client.

BE WELL: Wellness and nutrition matter. Work out but don’t spend HOURS at the gym, now that you have so much free time… OR consciously take two months off and say YES to not having a plan. Set a date when you are committed to starting a plan. This is recommended if you have back up money, a spouse who is working or a therapist who has put you on “bed rest” due to stress! You are now “selling” a package (YOU), and you need to look and feel fabulous. Even if you are having a bad hair day.

QUANTITY BEFORE QUALITY: As you start out, you will need to do a lot of “front end” work. At first, while you are sorting out what, where and who works for you, feeling out various situations and techniques is beneficial. Don’t think of this as a waste of time (this is to all you TASK MASTERS out there!). You will quickly learn what works and what doesn’t work for you. Then you can shift your focus to quality, pick and choose methods of living in transition.

LEADS: This is not said enough: everyone is a lead. EVERYONE. No really. Your dog sitter, your neighbor, the person standing in line behind you at Panera, the person sitting next to you at Panera with her laptop open fingers furiously tapping away, your coaches, mentors and authors who might say something that resonates for you that brings you closer to your next great thing. EVERYONE matters. Talk to everyone, all the time, about your situation. But pay attention: avoid “verbal vomitting” and puking out your desperation!

PROSPECTS: Not everyone is a prospect. A prospect is someone who says: I am really interested in XYZ – Please send me your resume. Or, please tell me how much you charge? A prospect needs to have a higher priority in your plan and schedule. This is ‘Sales 101’. A prospect is someone who is actually interested in talking to you today or very soon. In marketing language: they have peaked over the wall to look at you. The energy output on your end gets turned up.

PIPELINES: Physics says that there is a tipping point for matter and energy in a pipe. As you fill it up, eventually something will come out the other side. This is pipelining. Don’t worry too much about “closing” right now. Just pipeline like crazy. The laws of physics are on your side. At some point, you will be able to distinquish between a lead and a prospect or when to engage in quantity or quality networking. You will find your zone. EVERYONE eventually finds their unique ZONE. If you haven’t, you are either not doing the work… or you are really really stuck.

CLOSING: When you get a face to face interview, a second interview, a job offer… you might be surprised at the amount of fear, trepidation, melancholy or avoidance which may wash over you. You sense that your new-found freedom and support network may diminish, or the offer is 20k below what you made last year. This is a tough one. The BEST advice we have on this part of the process is: do not go through this process alone. This is where we, as coaches, see people “falling apart” more than we would expect. Get objective advice, an outsiders support, wise counsel.

SUPPORT SYSTEM: Who holds you accountable? Who are in your support systems? By the way, we have found that spouses, partners, family members and even close friends who are not in transition – are well-intentioned and want to help. Here’s the thing: they don’t have a clue. (unless they have walked this path before). Choose your support network and accountability partners wisely. Pay attention and see who resonates with you. A great rule of thumb: connect to the people whose eyes light up when you walk into a room.

UNPLUG: There is NOT ENOUGH information about the power of unplugging. Lots about wellness, yoga, nutrition, etc. all of which are highly beneficial. But what about doing nothing and not having a plan? How about for a whole day? When we ask groups of professionals in transition when they last unplugged for, say, three or four days (no PC, cell phone, schedule book, etc), very rarely do we see more than 2 or 3 hands go up. This is not a wise way to live in transition. Give yourself permission to unplug. No, really. Give yourself permission to unplug. Our recipes for successful unplugging include water, nature, rock and roll and tequila.

NOT ENOUGH AND TOO MUCH: Beware of the perfectionist mind that says you are not doing enough, or not doing it right. Beware of the lazy mind that says you can take time off this afternoon because there is a really great movie on HBO. If you want to take a day off in your schedule, then do so – make this day your day to unplug. Then get back to work the next day. But don’t bargain with yourself. That is unproductive and feels like taking two steps backwards, besides. Also, make a commitment to telling the “voice” to go jump off a cliff when it tells you: you are too old, not old enough, too beautiful, not beautiful enough, too experienced, not experienced enough. Ad nauseum.

FORWARD MOMENTUM: We also never get tired of saying this… create positive forward momentum for yourself, your job search, your client search, your fellow networkers, other professionals in transition, your community. Every moment matters. Pay attention. Any person you meet on any given day, might be the person who will offer a warm introduction to someone whom you need to know (So don’t go out in sweat pants and greasy hair!). Balance targeted and focused time with flexible and improvisational time. Go with the flow while creating the flow you are going with. This sounds odd… and it is. However, this seems to work for many people, long-term. Life is complex. So are you. So is living in transition. Does this resonate for you?

INFORMATION OVERLOAD: Take in information, digest it, see if it fits, and then try it on for size. You will get better and better at sifting through valuable info and not very valuable info. Trust your gut. Talk to a coach. Read a good book. Pay attention! You can do this and you are not alone. Always, always, always remember: transition is temporary. This too shall pass.

And whatever you do… don’t forget to breathe.

For more info & useful resources: www.VeloCityCoachingServices.com